System and method for using a temporary electronic serial number for over-the-air activation of a mobile device

ABSTRACT

A system and method for activating a subscriber identification module (SIM) based mobile device in a PCS/ANSI type wireless network. The method comprises pre-programming the SIM card of the mobile device with temporary activation identifiers, such as an international mobile station identity (IMSI) and/or a mobile identification number (MIN), and a temporary electronic serial number. The temporary electronic serial number, rather than the mobile device actual electronic serial number, is used to identify the mobile device during registration and activation. The network identifies the temporary electronic serial number associated with the SIM vendor and invokes an over-the-air activation procedure especially for the SIM card mobile devices. A SIM-over-the-air-activation processor is notified to perform the activation for that mobile device on the PCS wireless network. Authentication of the mobile device may be bypassed and the mobile device is instructed to transmit its actual electronic serial number for future registrations. Once the activation process is completed, the temporary activation identifiers are overwritten.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/707,593,filed Nov. 7, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,591,098, which is incorporatedherein by reference. This application is related to application Ser. No.09/707,671 entitled “Activation and Remote Modification of WirelessServices,” filed on Nov. 7, 2000 that is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a system and method of activating a mobiledevice in a PCS-type wireless network, and more specifically, to asystem and method of identifying and activating a SIM-based mobiledevice in a PCS-type wireless network.

2. Discussion of Related Art

New users of mobile devices, such as cellular telephones, palm pilots,and the like, can register and activate their mobile devices with awireless network in several ways. One manner of registering a mobiledevice with a wireless network is to personally meet with a serviceprovider, purchase or receive a wireless device, and have the serviceprovider enter activation data into the wireless network related to theindividual and the mobile device identification. In this manner, whenthe user begins to use the mobile device, the wireless network willrecognize the user and mobile device to enable the user to make callsand communicate data.

The foregoing procedure is used in the global system for mobilecommunication (GSM) system. In a GSM system, an international mobilesubscriber identity (IMSI) is fixed in a subscriber identity module(SIM) and the carrier's system records the IMSI which is reported by thewireless device after the attachment or registration process iscompleted.

Another method of enabling a user to register and activate a mobiledevice with a wireless network is through over-the-air activation (OAA).In this method, when a mobile device is first used, it identifies itselfto the wireless network using temporary identification data stored onthe wireless device. Through the process of the initial communication ofdata between the mobile device and the wireless network, the mobiledevice can be registered and activated with the network without the needof the user physically meeting with the service provider.

One wireless system that utilizes OAA is the ANSI-136/41standard-compliant network. The American National Standards Institute(ANSI) is an industry standards group that coordinates volunteerstandards activities in the U.S. The ANSI-136/41 network is also knownas a TDMA (time-division-multiple-access) network or commonly called thepersonal communication service (PCS) network. In terms of thisdisclosure, a PCS wireless network may also refer to any wirelessnetwork that does not typically support or is capable of activatingover-the-air SIM-based mobile devices such as those used in a GSMnetwork. Another wireless network that uses the OAA is the advancedmobile phone system (AMPS). The AMPS system is an analog cellulartelephone standard.

The TDMA/AMPS wireless networks include a mobile identification number(MIN) which is temporary and is overwritten in an over-the-airactivation process. In an ANSI-136/41 network, the OAA is accomplishedby the mobile device registering using the MIN. The MIN can be thetelephone number of the mobile device. The ANSI-136 revision A specifiesthat the activation MIN for un-programmed mobiles shall be of the form000-Nxx-xxxx in the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). This formatconforms to the traditional 10-digit telephone number that is dialed byanother party. The “000” is the area code, “Nxx” is the three-digitexchange office number and “xxxx” is the four-digit extension number.This allows for the identification and routing of the activation-MIN toan over-the-air-processor (OTAP) for temporary registration of themobile device on the ANSI network.

These two differing wireless networks, the GSM and ANSI-136/41, do notprovide cross-support for the registration/activation process. Forexample, a mobile device using the SIM card will not be recognized if itattempts to register and activate on an ANSI-136/41 system. This isbecause the registration, authentication and activation processesbetween these two cellular systems use different keys and algorithms.Since TDMA networks don't currently support mobile devices using SIMs, anew OTAP function is needed to perform over-the-air activation to thesedevices. One can program a SIM manually, through a kiosk, or have apoint-of-sale person program the SIM through a special device. However,these mechanisms require some sort of physical connection to aprogramming device. The procedures may even vary from manufacturer tomanufacturer of the SIM cards regarding the programming procedureswithin a GSM wireless network.

The foregoing brief explanation of the registration/activation processis for what is generally called the “second generation” of wirelessservices. The second generation generally refers to voice-only services,but may also refer to the ANSI-136 wireless standard. When a mobiledevice uses the above-described techniques for OAA and registration, themobile device identifies itself as a second-generation device. With theadvent of digital data services that enable Internet access throughwireless devices, the next generation, or “third generation”, of mobiledevices and wireless networks are being developed. In order for athird-generation mobile device to be recognized by the network as suchand take advantage of the third-generation services, the mobile devicemust transmit in the OAA procedures that it is a third-generation mobiledevice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

What is needed in the art is an over-the-air activation procedure inwhich a mobile device identifies itself as a third-generation mobiledevice to the network. Furthermore, what is needed in the art is asystem and method to enable a SIM-based mobile device to be recognized,registered and activated within an ANSI-136/41 or PCS wireless network.

Accordingly, the present invention enables an ANSI-136/41 or PCSwireless network to recognize a SIM-based mobile device during theregistration process so that the correct OAA procedures can be invokedfor the mobile device.

The present invention further enables the network to identify themanufacturer of the SIM card within the confines of the PCSspecifications.

The present invention further enables third-generation wireless devicesto be registered and activated on a PCS network.

In addition, the present invention allows a SIM to be programmed orreprogrammed while seated in a wireless device.

A method according to an embodiment of the present inventionaccomplishes over-the-air activation of a mobile device having aremovable card in a PCS wireless network. The method comprisesprogramming the removable card with a temporary activation identifier(TAI), a SIM electronic serial number (S-ESN) and a network usageindicator field, which is set to report the activation identifier andelectronic serial number during registration. During registration, themobile device transmits the activation identifier and the SIM electronicserial number as the card identifier to the wireless network. Thenetwork identifies the SIM electronic serial number as a temporary ESNassociated with the mobile device and a removable card vendor. Thisidentification is preferably accomplished using the home locationregister (HLR), but may also occur at a Message Center (MC). The HLR orMC will identify the mobile device as a SIM device via the S-ESN andnotify the correct vendor SIM over-the-air activation processor (SOTAP)to proceed with the OAA process. The network then invokes anover-the-air activation procedure for the mobile device.

Next, the method comprises the option of bypassing authenticationprocedures and programming the mobile device to send the actualelectronic serial number to the mobile device for future registration.The option to bypass authentication enables the present invention to beused in both GSM and TDMA wireless systems. Therefore, if one wirelessnetwork does not allow the authentication procedure to be bypassed, thenauthentication can proceed. The GSM system may require authentication,for example, while other wireless networks provide for authentication tobe optional. Finally, to complete the over-the-air activation process,the method comprises setting the usage indicators to transmit the actualESN in the future and overwriting the temporary activation identifiers.

The method according to the preferred embodiment of the invention allowsa PCS network to identify a manufacturer of a SIM during theregistration process and insure that the correct OAA procedure can beinvoked for that SIM. In this manner, the SOTAP can register/activateSIM mobile devices on the network and a PCS over-the-air processor canregister/activate OAA of mobile devices not using the SIM cards.

The system according to a preferred embodiment of the present inventioncomprises a mobile device, a base station communicating with the mobiledevice via an over-the-air interface, and a mobile switching center(MSC) communicating with the base station. A home location register(HLR) or message center (MC) communicates with the MSC, anover-the-air-activation processor (OTAP) and a SIMover-the-air-activation processor (SOTAP). The OTAP and SOTAP eachcommunicate with the MSC and the HLR or MC. The HLR or MC identifies andrecognizes the S-ESN transmitted from the mobile device and communicateswith the SOTAP. The SOTAP is instructed to perform the activationprocedure for the mobile device. If the mobile device identifies itselfto the network using the MIN/ESN or ANSI-136 standard, the HLR willinstruct the OTAP to activate the mobile device on the network.

According to the network system disclosed herein, OAA can beaccomplished in a PCS network for both SIM-based mobile devices andMIN/ESN-based mobile devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments of the present invention may be understood withreference to the attached figures, of which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a mobile device having a SIM card;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary wireless network according to the firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows an example of a system according to the second embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows an example of a process according to the third embodimentof the present invention; and

FIG. 5 shows another example of a process according to the fourthembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention may be understood according to the detaileddescription provided herein. The first embodiment of the presentinvention comprises a system for accomplishing over-the-air activationof a mobile device in a wireless network. FIG. 1 illustrates a mobiledevice 10 having an outer case 12, antenna 16, a display 14, and a SIM18. Since the mobile device 10 contains a removable SIM card 18, it isnot a mobile device traditionally used in a PCS-based wireless network.Details associated with the structure and operation of the mobile device10, such as a keyboard, speaker, internal logic, D/A converters, digitalprocessing, modulation chips, amplifiers, etc. are not shown in FIG. 1but are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The mobiledevice 10 may be of any known or yet to be developed mobile device, suchas a cellular telephone, palm pilot, portable computer, and the like.

The SIM 18 is used to store subscriber-specific information, such as theinternational mobile station identity (IMSI) and an authentication key.The IMSI is comparable to the MIN used in the PCS network. According tothe first embodiment of the present invention, the SIM card 18 of themobile device 10 is pre-programmed with a temporary activationidentifier (TAI) 20. The TAI may be an IMSI and/or a MIN. The SIM card18 is further pre-programmed with a SIM-electronic serial number (S-ESN)22 that the PCS network can interpret or associate with the specific SIMcard or SIM card vendor. The S-ESN is a temporary electronic serialnumber that is used in the registration and activation process. ThisS-ESN can also identify the SIM card to the PCS or second-generationnetwork as requiring an initial over-the-air activation procedure.

In addition, the SNM card is pre-programmed with “ANSI-136 UsageIndicators” 24. The Usage Indicators are 2-bit fields on the SIM thatinstruct the mobile device regarding which ESN to send to the networkfor authentication and which ESN to send to the network for reporting.These indicators are programmed in a field, defined in PN-4582 publishedby TR 45.2, and are set to report the S-ESN during the ANSI registrationprocess, rather than the actual ESN of the mobile device 10. When themobile device 10 registers with the ANSI-136/41 network, the mobiledevice 10 transmits the activation NSI/MIN and the S-ESN as the SIMidentifier.

In PN-4788, ESN Usage indicator is defined as part of ANSI-136 UsageIndicators. The following are defined:

Coding of Service n1 (ESN Usage indicator)

b2=0 and b1=0: Use ESN for Reporting & Authentication

b2=0 and b1=1: Use ESN for Reporting and S-ESN for Authentication

According to the present invention, the following usage indicators arefurther defined:

b2=1 and b1=0: Use S-ESN for Reporting & Authentication

During the OAA of the SIM, the ANSI-136 Usage Indicators 24 field isactivated to instruct the mobile device 10 to send the ACTUAL mobiledevice ESN for future registration. Being only 2-bits, there are only 4possible combinations for the usage indicators. These additionalparameters, only reside on a GAIT SIM card—and do not reside on thestandard GSM directory.

A wireless network 100 according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention is illustrated in FIG. 2. This network may contain portions ofdifferent networks. For example, several nodes may be part of a PCSnetwork, while other nodes, or servers, may be part of a GSM network.The mobile device 10 communicates with a base station 112 using theover-the-air interface according to the ANSI-136 standard (also known asthe Telecommunication Industry Association/Electronic IndustriesAlliance-136 standard (TIA/EIA-136)). The base station 112 communicateswith a mobile switching center (MSC) 114 and visitor location register(VLR) 114. The MSC/VLR 114 provides the same functionality as a centraloffice switch in a public-switched telephone network and is additionallyresponsible for call processing, mobility management, and radio resourcemanagement. The VLR 114 performs a database function local to the MSC114 and maintains temporary records associated with non-home mobiledevices registered for service with the network. The MSC/VLR 114communicates with a teleservice server/OTAP 124 through message center(MC) 116. The OTAP 124 provides the formatting, storage, and forwardingof over-the-air-activation messages. The OTAP 124 and MSC/VLR 114communicate with a home location register (HLR) 118 via, for example,the TIA/EIA-41 standard protocol in the PCS network, preferably througha customer server center (CSC) 120. The HLR 118 is the primary databasein the cellular network that stores information about mobile users. Itcontains a record for each home subscriber that includes the mobiledirectory number, subscriber features, subscriber status, and currentlocation information.

The HLR 118 or MC 116 operates a program which receives the temporaryelectronic serial number from the mobile device 10, associates thetemporary electronic serial number with a vendor, transmits anactivation notification signal to a subscriber identification cardmodule over-the-air-activation processor and activates the mobile deviceon the network using the subscriber identification card moduleover-the-air-activation processor.

The MSC/VLR 114 communicates with a SIM-over-the-air-activationprocessor (SOTAP) 122 through the MC 116. The HLR118 communicates withSOTAP 122 via a customer service center (CSC) 120. The communicationmeans between these nodes in the network 100 may be proprietary or mayuse open standards. The protocols may be SS7 or IP-based. The physicalmeans by which the elements are grouped or left separate, and theinterfaces—whether proprietary or open—are left to the carrier.

In a variation of this embodiment, the MSC/VLR 114 may register thesubscriber on a pseudo-HLR (the MC 116) for OAA. In this case, theregistration from the MSC 114 is sent to the MC 116, whereby the MC 116interprets the S-ESN or ESN and sends notification to the SOTAP 122 orOTAP 124 respectively, for processing.

During the registration process for a mobile device 10 with the network100, the HLR 118 or MC 116 will identify the mobile device 10 as a SIMdevice via the S-ESN data and notify the correct vendor SOTAP 122 toinitiate the OAA process. The network 100 then identifies the S-ESNassociated with the SIM vendor and invokes the proper OAA procedure forthat SIM card. This may involve the HLR 118 or MC 116 notifying theSOTAP 122 that a SIM mobile device 10 is registering with a PCS networkand that the SOTAP 122 should initiate its OAA process. Theauthentication procedure, known to those of skill in the art and notdescribed in detail herein, may be bypassed because the mobile device isreporting an S-ESN. The identification of a SIM at registration allowsfor bypassing the authentication procedure when the SIM is in thepre-OAA state. This alleviates the network 100 having to map secureauthentication keys against the temporary identification information, orinformation that might not be enough to differentiate between twopre-OAA SIMs.

Although the authentication procedure is bypassed in the firstembodiment, which is the preferred embodiment, it does not have to bebypassed to perform and practice the invention described and claimedherein.

Other network configurations and arrangements are within the scope ofthis invention, and in no way are FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 meant to confine theconcepts to those illustrated.

A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3. In thisembodiment, the nodes of the network 110 operate similar to those in thefirst embodiment shown in FIG. 2, except that the network configurationis modified as shown. This embodiment illustrates the communicationprotocols between nodes and locates the HLR 118 as communicatingdirectly with the MC 116 and MSC/VLR 114, as well as the CustomerService Center (CSC) 120 as in the first embodiment of FIG. 2. Forexample, the ITA/EIA-41 protocol is preferably used to transmitintersystem data between the various nodes (MSC/VLR 114, MC 116 and HLR118) of the network. Data between the MC 116 and MSC/VLR 114 may also betransmitted using the short message service (SMS). Such messages, alsoknown as short message delivery point-to-point (SMDPP) messages, may be,for example, emails, pages, graphics, alpha-numeric characters, and thelike.

A third embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of the exampleprocess shown in FIG. 4. According to this embodiment, a method isproposed for enabling activation of a SIM-based mobile device in a PCSwireless network. The method comprises programming (200) the removablecard with a temporary activation identifier (TAI), a SIM electronicserial number (S-ESN) and a network usage indicator field, which is setto report the activation electronic serial number during registration.During registration of the mobile device with a PCS network, the mobiledevice transmits (202) the TAI and S-ESN as the SIM card identifier. Thenetwork identifies (204) the SIM based mobile device using the S-ESNassociated with a removable card vendor. The authentication proceduresmay or may not be bypassed according to the present invention.Preferably, authentication is bypassed (206) to alleviate the network ofthe requirement of mapping secure authentication keys against thetemporary identification information, or against information that maynot be unique enough to differentiate between two pre-OAA SIM cards. Ifthe network responds to the bypass authentication query of step 206 witha “no” (meaning that authentication is not bypassed), thenauthentication proceeds (208).

After authentication (208), or after the authentication procedure isbypassed, the network notifies (210) the vendor OAA processing server ofthe registration of a SIM-based mobile device in a PCS network. Thenetwork notifies the correct OTAP or SOTAP of the registration. Theappropriate processor then invokes (212) an over-the-air activationprocedure for the mobile device. The processor may be of any knowncomputer or network processor capable of carrying out the functions ofthe disclosed invention.

After activation, the network instructs (214) the mobile device totransmit the actual electronic serial number (ESN) for futureregistrations. This is accomplished by setting the usage indicator tosend the actual ESN in the future. Thus, the usage indicators may be setto b2=0 and b1=0 or b2=0 and b1=1, according to PN-4788, which instructsthe mobile device to use the ESN in future reporting to the network.Finally, the method comprises overwriting (216) the temporary activationidentifiers. In this manner, the actual ESN of the mobile device is notreported to the network until the OAA is successfully completed.

The fourth embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 5,which shows an exemplary method of providing over-the-air activation ofeither a second-generation wireless device or a third-generationwireless device. The wireless device initiates the process by requesting(300) registration on the network using a temporary activationidentifier (TAI). The network receives the TAI and creates (302) atemporary subscriber profile for OAA activation. The network inquires(304) whether the S-ESN was reported to determine whether the device isa second-generation device or third-generation device. If the S-ESN wasnot reported, the OTAP is notified (306) and the OAA is executed (308)for the second-generation mobile device. If the S-ESN was reported, thenthe process inquires (310) whether authentication should be bypassed. Ifauthentication is not to be bypassed, then authentication is performed(312). If authentication is bypassed, then the process proceeds directlyto notify (314) the correct SOTAP, based on the S-ESN, to begin OAA.Then the network executes (316) OAA for the third-generation SIM.

The benefits and advantages of the embodiments of the present inventioninclude the fact that there will be no standards modification requiredfor this procedure. Translations of the ANSI HLR programming will causeit to route SIM-based mobile devices that require OAA to a SOTAP basedon either activation MIN or S-ESN.

Although the foregoing description provides many specific details, it isnot meant to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. Otherpatents or documents may be combined with this disclosure to inform thereader as to insubstantial changes or modifications to the inventionsrecited in the appended claims. Thus, the scope of the invention isgoverned by the appended claims, and their legal equivalents, ratherthan by the exemplary embodiments discussed above.

1. A method of over-the-air activation of a wireless device comprising adevice electronic serial number and a temporary electronic serial numberdifferent from the device electronic serial number, the methodcomprising: receiving the temporary electronic serial number from thewireless device wherein the temporary electronic serial number ispreprogrammed onto a removable identification card coupled to thewireless device; associating the temporary electronic serial number witha vendor; selecting one of a plurality of over-the-air activationprocesses each associated with a different vendor, the selected one ofthe plurality of over-the-air activation processes being associated withthe same vendor associated with the temporary electronic serial number;and activating the wireless device according to the selectedover-the-air activation process associated with the vendor that isassociated with the temporary electronic serial number.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein a home location register selects the one of theplurality of over-the-air activation processes.
 3. The method of claim1, further comprising determining that the wireless device is a thirdgeneration wireless device.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein a messagecenter selects the one of the plurality of over-the-air activationprocesses.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected one of theplurality of over-the-air activation processes comprises setting a usageindicator located at the wireless device so the wireless devicetransmits the device electronic serial number subsequent to activation.6. The method of claim 1, wherein the vendor is a vendor of theremovable identification card coupled to the wireless device.
 7. Themethod of claim 6, wherein a network node performing the selected one ofthe plurality of over-the-air activation processes is associated withthe vendor of the removable identification card.
 8. A method forachieving wireless device over-the-air activation, the methodcomprising: transmitting a temporary electronic serial number from awireless device, wherein the temporary electronic serial number ispreprogrammed onto a removable subscriber identity module (SIM) cardcoupled to the wireless device, and the wireless device comprises adevice electronic serial number different from the temporary electronicserial number; receiving the temporary electronic serial number at afirst network node and relaying the temporary electronic serial numberto a second network node; receiving the temporary electronic serialnumber at the second network node: the second network node associatingthe temporary electronic serial number with a vendor; the second networknode selecting one of a plurality of over-the-air activation processeseach associated with a different vendor, the selected one of theactivation processes being associated with the same vendor associatedwith the temporary electronic serial number; and invoking the selectedone of the over-the-air activation processes to activate the wirelessdevice.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the selected one of theover-the-air activation processes executes at the second network node.10. The method of claim 8, wherein the selected one of the over-the-airactivation processes executes at a third network node.
 11. The method ofclaim 8, wherein the second network node is a home location register.12. The method of claim 8, wherein the second network node is a messagecenter.
 13. The method of claim 8, wherein the wireless devicecommunicates via an American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-136/41protocol.
 14. The method of claim 8, wherein the wireless devicecommunicates via a personal communication service (PCS) protocol. 15.The method of claim 8, wherein the temporary electronic serial number isa SIM-electronic serial number.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein theremovable SIM card is further preprogrammed with a temporary activationidentifier.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the wireless deviceinitiates activation by transmitting the temporary activationidentifier.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving thetemporary activation identifier and creating a temporary subscriberprofile for over-the-air activation.
 19. The method of claim 18, furthercomprising determining whether the wireless device is second or thirdgeneration device based on whether a SIM-electronic serial number isreported by the mobile device.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein theone of the over-the-air activation processes is selected based onwhether the SIM-electronic serial number was reported by the mobiledevice.
 21. The method of claim 15, wherein the SIM-electronic serialnumber identifies the SIM card.
 22. The method of claim 15, wherein thevendor associated with the temporary electronic serial number is a SIMcard vendor associated with the SIM-electronic serial number.
 23. Themethod of claim 15, wherein the removable SIM card is furtherpreprogrammed with usage indicators, and the method further comprisesdetermining, based on the usage indicators, whether to transmit thetemporary electronic serial number or the device electronic serialnumber during authentication.
 24. The method of claim 15, wherein theremovable SIM card is further preprogrammed with usage indicators, andthe method further comprises determining, based on the usage indicators,whether to transmit the temporary electronic serial number or the deviceelectronic serial number for reporting.
 25. The method of claim 15,wherein the removable SIM card is further preprogrammed with usageindicators, and the method further comprises determining, based on theusage indicators, whether to transmit the temporary electronic serialnumber or the device electronic serial number for activation.
 26. Anactivation method for a wireless device comprising a device electronicserial number and a temporary electronic serial number different fromthe device electronic serial number, the temporary electronic serialnumber being preprogrammed onto a subscriber identity module (SIM) card,the method comprising: receiving an electronic serial number from thewireless device; determining that the electronic serial number receivedis the temporary electronic serial number preprogrammed onto the SIMcard; associating the temporary electronic serial number with a vendor;selecting one of a plurality of over-the-air activation processes, eachassociated with a different vendor, the selected one of the plurality ofover-the-air activation processes being associated with the same vendorassociated with the temporary electronic serial number; and invoking theselected over-the-air activation process.
 27. The method of claim 26,wherein the method is performed at one or more network nodes.
 28. Themethod of claim 26, wherein the method is performed by an AmericaNational Standards Institute (ANSI)-136/41 network.
 29. The method ofclaim 26, wherein the method is performed by a global system for mobilecommunication (GSM) network.
 30. The method of claim 26, whereininvoking the procedure comprises sending a communication to anothernetwork node to perform the selected one of the plurality ofover-the-air-activation processes.
 31. An activation method performed byone or more network nodes, the method comprising: receiving a temporaryelectronic serial number from a mobile device having a device electronicserial number that is different from the temporary electronic serialnumber being preprogrammed onto a subscriber identity module (SIM) cardof the mobile device; associating the temporary electronic serial numberwith a vendor; selecting one of a plurality of over-the-air activationprocedures each associated with a different vendor, the selected one ofthe plurality of over-the-air activation processes being associated withthe same vendor associated with the temporary electronic serial number;and invoking the selected one of the plurality of over-the-airactivation procedures.
 32. The method of claim 31, wherein the selectedone of the plurality of over-the-air activation procedures comprisessetting a usage indicator located at the wireless device causing thewireless device to transmit the device electronic serial number insteadof the temporary electronic serial number subsequent to activation.